PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 16, 2024
Media Contact:
Charissa Murray
charissa@tybeeisland.com
912.596.2164
Ahoy Mates! 20th annual Tybee Island Pirate Fest takes place Oct. 10–13
TYBEE ISLAND, GA — The 2024 Tybee Island Pirate Fest will take place Oct. 10–13, providing attendees with a rare opportunity to escape the ordinary if only for a weekend. Now in its 20th year, Pirate Fest presents a slate of weekend activities including the annual Buccaneer Ball, a new pub crawl, a parade, live performances and much more.
The festivities kick off with the 18th annual Buccaneer Ball, taking place Thursday, Oct. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Crab Shack. Attendees can enjoy a rowdy evening complete with plenty of grog and grub culminating with the crowning of this year’s Pirate King and Queen. Tickets for the Buccaneer Ball can be purchased online at EventBrite by visiting eventbrite.com/e/2024-buccaneer-ball-tickets-956388873867.
Following on Friday, Oct. 11 from 12 to 5 p.m. is the first-ever Myers Rum Pirate Pub Crawl. Departing from the top of Tybrisa Street at 12:30, the pub crawl features stops at several participating bars including Stingray’s, The Sand Bar, Nickies 1971, Rock House, Pier 16, Wet Willie’s, Windrose Cafe, Bernies, Doc’s Bar, Tybee Time, Spanky’s, Fannie’s on the Beach and Rip Tide Bar. There is a $5 fee to participate, and the first 100 participants will receive a free festival t-shirt. All pub crawlers who turn in a completed card will be entered into a drawing to win one of two coveted Tybee Pirate Festival gift baskets. Registration is available at tybee-island-pirate-fest.square.site/product/pub-crawl-registration/65.
The main festival days occur Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 13, during which attendees can enjoy a wide range of live entertainment and activities including belly dancing, aerial and musical performances; carnival rides, face painting, and children’s crafts at Little Matey’s Cove; and vendors, among other attractions. The annual parade will take place Saturday, Oct. 12 at 3 p.m., departing from 6th Street. In anticipation of larger crowds for the 20th anniversary, the festival grounds have grown to encompass the entire South Beach parking lot near the iconic Pier & Pavilion from Tybrisa Street to 18th Street.
“We are so excited to celebrate 20 years of the biggest swashbuckling soiree in the South. We started the Pirate Fest as a way to support the local community, and two decades later, we’re still going strong. We encourage anyone with a passion for pirates to join us at this year’s festival. It’s an unparalleled experience that’s unique to Tybee,” said Charissa Murray, president of the Tybee Festival Association.
This event is made possible by the dedicated support of many volunteers, many local businesses, The City of Tybee Island and the Tybee Island Tourism Council. Tybee Island Pirate Fest is free and open to the public. For more information and the full schedule of events, visit tybeepiratefest.com.
About Tybee Island Pirate Fest:
Tybee Island Pirate Fest began with a small handful of individuals who were looking for a unique event to boost visitation to the island during the off-season. These individuals came together to form the Tybee Festival Association, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to planning and producing events on the island. With the island’s unique positioning and rich history as a barrier island off the Georgia coast, the organizers decided that an event themed around pirates would be particularly fitting. Since its inception, Pirate Fest has grown every year, attracting thousands of visitors from around the country for an unforgettable experience.
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